We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ella Hicks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ella below.
Ella, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
I was a girl who always knew what she wanted to do when she grew up. I followed that dream to the big city, completed my education, and began a career that blossomed into more than I could have ever imagined. I met a man, got married, and had two children, all while my career continued to thrive. Unfortunately, my marriage became entangled with domestic violence. Despite this, I maintained my career, even starting my own design consulting business, working with top-notch brands. However, there came a time when I could no longer sustain my life with my husband. One frigid winter night, we escaped with nothing but the clothes on our backs, one child on each hip. I had to walk away from my beloved career, home, friends, colleagues, and the city that I loved.
Navigating the path of healing has taken years of patience, persistence, and a fearlessness I didn’t know I had. At that time, “trauma healing” wasn’t widely discussed, so I took it upon myself to become educated in the field. I took class after class, became certified as a Clinical Trauma Professional and a Mindfulness Coach, and started writing a blog called Rebel Thriver.
In the midst of my grief over my losses, I discovered my calling to work with women survivors of domestic violence. It has been a long and winding road, but I’ve learned so much along the way. I am incredibly proud—not only of the woman I’ve become, but of the children I’ve raised, and the Rebel Thriver community I’ve built.
Sometimes in life, you have to accept that no one is coming to save you. Sometimes, you have to be your own hero.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Today, I wear many hats, but the one that resonates most with me is working with women survivors of trauma and abuse. My journey led me to establish Rebel Thriver, a nonprofit organization that has grown into a global community for women. This community, known as The Village, offers a safe, private online space where women can take classes, receive coaching, join groups, and access global support. Everything we offer is free for women who are in the process of healing, rediscovering themselves, rebuilding their lives, and creating a brighter future.
My private practice, Alchemy for Women, was born out of my 14 years of experience working with thousands of women from around the world. In this practice, I guide women through their healing journey, working both individually and in small groups. My current offerings are Bloom and Wildflowers, and a third in the works. There’s something incredibly powerful about connecting with other survivors—there’s an unspoken language that we share, a deep understanding that only comes from lived experience. Early in my own healing journey, I learned that if a practitioner wasn’t “trauma-informed,” it wasn’t the right fit for me. Having someone who has walked in your shoes and understands the complexities of abuse, trauma bonding, and complex trauma is crucial.
One of the most rewarding parts of my work is leading small groups of women through different stages of healing. Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate—it affects women from all walks of life, regardless of culture, religion, education, or socio-economic background. At its core, it’s about one person exerting control over another.
Rebel Thriver has grown tremendously over the past 12 years, starting from a simple blog post titled, “Sometimes you have to be your own hero.” That post was my way of reaching out into the darkness, and to my amazement, thousands of women from around the world reached back. This is how a simple blog evolved into a vibrant women’s community. Beyond our private platform, The Village, we also have a large social media presence on Facebook and Instagram, where I continue to use my creative skills to design our posts, website, and merchandise.
Life can hit us hard when we least expect it, leaving us doubled over in pain and disbelief. But falling down isn’t the issue—staying down is. We are meant for so much more than our abusers want us to believe. Each of us is a universe within ourselves, and we deserve to explore that universe, find peace, and reclaim our ability to dream.
What I want people to understand about the work I do is this: Escaping from domestic violence is one of the hardest things anyone will ever have to do. While there is an industry set up to help women leave abusive relationships, with donations, grants, and sponsorships to support them, once a woman leaves, she often “graduates” from these organizations. This creates a huge void, as all the support suddenly drops off. Rebel Thriver fills this void, providing ongoing support for the long path of healing. Our door is always open, and our light is always shining.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
My reputation as a trauma-informed practitioner has developed organically. I remain deeply committed to all areas of my work: Rebel Thriver, our private online community, The Village, and my private practice with women. Consistently showing up and being available for those in need has been at the heart of my approach. Over time, I’ve built an incredible team of women who support this mission.
I believe the impact of my work speaks for itself. Rebel Thriver stands out as a unique private community dedicated to the recovery of women survivors of trauma and abuse. My own lived experience as a survivor of domestic violence places me in a distinctive position to offer genuine understanding and support. This personal connection is a key reason why women from around the world continue to join us every day.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Growing up in a strict, conservative Christian household, I often felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. As a highly empathic and artistic child, I was caught between conflicting messages: “You can be anything you put your mind to” and “A woman is less than a man and should be subservient.” The environment I was raised in discouraged individual thought and embraced conformity, leaving me with a sense of inadequacy.
These contradictions and hypocrisies led me to rebel, a choice that made my life more challenging but ultimately helped me find my voice and question my beliefs. While this rebellion was painful, it was crucial for my growth.
Unfortunately, some of this early programming influenced my choices, leading me into a marriage with a controlling, anger-fueled partner. Healing from the wounds inflicted by such religious and emotional manipulation takes time and maturity. What I’ve learned is the importance of questioning everything we are taught. This belief is central to the work I do with women. We focus on rediscovering the person we were meant to be before the world imposed its limitations on us. This process involves reading, questioning, learning, and discussing any beliefs that no longer serve us. Most importantly, it involves identifying and breaking generational patterns of trauma within family bloodlines to disrupt cycles of dysfunction and abuse.
I am dedicated to dismantling the “fairy tale” we were taught in childhood. I help women not only question what they have learned but also guide them on how to build an unshakeable personal foundation (Bloom). Once these foundational cornerstones are anchored, I continue to support them on their path of healing.
My advice? Question everything, be courageous enough to discard what doesn’t serve you, and embrace what does.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://ellahicks.com/
- Instagram:@ellahicksalchemy
- Facebook:@ellahicksalchemy
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/ellahicks
- Other: Our private online community: rebelthrivertribe.comFundraising Campaigns: givebutter.com/rebelthriverShop: rebelthriver.org/shop
Image Credits
The first illustration of the woman with blonde hair in a pony tail with black and white striped sweater is the talented artist Elizabeth Mayville. As a survivor of domestic violence myself, I cannot use my actual mage out of an abundance of safety for myself and my family.